Cloth-spreading holder



' 1951 H. B. SCHNEIDER ET AL 2,572,204

CLOTH SPREADING HOLDER Filed July 22, 1947 62/7040 5. 527/5/05? AQzQ/Qr Aaqsrz v INVENTOR.

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array/v57 Patented Oct. 23, 1951 CLOTH-SPREADING HOLDER Harold B. Schneider and Harry Koretz, New York, N. Y.

Application July 22, 1947, Serial No. 762,546

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to cloth spreading holders and more particularly to a cloth spreading holder which is adjustable in operation.

In the placing of cloth or similar sheet material in a plurality of layers upon a working surface for the purpose of cutting through-the pile or stack, it is desirable that the several plies of cloth or the like be anchored substantially with respect to each other and to the working surface. In this manner oscillating or vertically reciprocating knives may be used to cut through the'laminated pile and thereby produce a large number of identically patterned pieces by a single cutting operation.

While in certain fields, adhesive or clamping means may be utilized, where the materials are thin or have a low coeflicient of surface friction, it is desirable that the ends of the material as well as the bights, when the pile is formed by folding, bez positively secured.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide cloth spreading holder constructions by the use of which the portions of the material being spread are impaled and securely anchored to prevent undesired movement thereof during the laying and cutting'operations.

Another object herein lies in the provision of construction of the class described which is adjustable so as to conform to the width and thickness of the cutting table surface with which it is used. 7

Another object herein lies in the provision of cloth spreading holders which may be adjusted to accommodate continuous webs of cloth or similar planar material of different widths.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the various adjustments may be made without the use of special tools or skill.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that the impaling elements may engage the planar material in such a manner as to facilitate the cutting thereof with a minimum amount of wastage.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of impaling elements which are so shiftable that different sizes may be substituted to accommodate different cloth thicknesses.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of means for the removal of the impaling elements where their absence is desired during the cutting operation on the material stack.

Another. object hereinlies in the provision of structure of the class described having means for the severing of each ply of material as it is laid and for automatically counting the number of plies in a given lay of planar material.

Another object herein lies in the provision' of adjustable and detachable bracing means for the impaling elements so as to reduce distortion thereof with a consequent loss of material being cut.

A still further object herein lies in the provision of cloth spreading holders which are simple and fool-proof in construction, are low in weight and cost and may therefore have a consequent wide sale and use.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which similar refer-. ence characters designate corresponding parts.

throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing an em,

bodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 2,2 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front ele-v vational viewrof the left hand end of the, device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in central section showing a means for removing the impaling elements.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly I in section showing an alternate form of a lower end of an impaling element and its engagement with a base plate.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of the upper end of an impaling element.

Fig. 7 is afragmentary vertical sectional view said last mentioned elements indicated by refer-- ence characters l4, l5, l6 and I1. As willbecome apparent from this disclosure, the number of ele-- ments 13 may be varied to suit the particula laying and cutting operation.

The first and'second frame members are substantially identical in construction and include vertical edge engaging portions l8 and I9, and elongated top portions 22 and 23.

The frame awaeoas Operation Operation of the present device is a simple and convenient matter. Preferably a pair of the devices III are used, one at each end of the cloth or planar material lay. Assuming that the device III of Fig. l is to be placed at the left portion ofa cutting table III, all of the nuts 44, I44, 244 and 344 are released and the portions I8 and I9 are separated, utilizing the handles 8 and 9 so that their lower edges may pass downwardly about the longitudinal edges of the table I0. Following this, the portions I8 and I9 are moved toward each other, again using the handles until the inner surfaces 20 and 2| engage the longitudinal edges of the table. In Fig. 3 the engagement of the inner surface of the shaft end portion against the table edge 63 is shown. Next, the elements I4, I5, IBand H or a lesser or greater number of them are shifted along the frame members which they engage, preferably to such positions that the impaling members on the endmost elements I3 may engage the selvage or outer longitudinal edges of the material (not shown) with which the device is'used. The inner impaling members are shifted so as to equally distribute the stress of the planar material. When the elements I4-I'I are properly located, th knurled nuts corresponding to the nut 44 are all tightened. This fixes the position of the elements I I-I1 inclusive as well as the effective length of the device III. After this, the handle 3'! may be manipulated so as to securely clamp the device Ill against longitudinal shifting with respect to the table I0. The frame members I I and I2 are preferably substantiall rigid so that because of the spacers I8 and 318 the lower surfaces of the elements 13 will contact the surface 65 of the table I0. In view of the fact that the forward surfaces M on the respective elements I 3 taper downwardly and forwardly, the bottom layer of cloth or similar material may be brought very close to the actual top surface 65 of the table 60. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, another complete device substantially identical with the device II] may be placed at the opposite end of the cutting table with the forward portions thereof facing the forward portions of the device I shown. With the parts so adjusted and established, long bolts of cloth or similar material in web form may be oscillated to and fro above the cutting table and at each reversing direction, the web of the cloth is placed between the cutting members IUI and I02, the extension I04 is depressed and this notches the cloth and raises the counter dial I05 one digit indicating the number of plies in the lay. After notching, as described, the cloth may be torn along a weft thread to produce uniform ends. Actuation of the chuck collar 99 permits adjustment in height of the element 98 to approximate the height of the lay or cloth pile. Each cloth end, as it is formed may be manually impaled upon the member 50 and other members corresponding thereto.

As the cloth pile increases in height, there is a tendency for it to pull the members 50, I50, 250 and 350 forwardly, which is because said members are relatively long and slender. As this bending of said members occurs or tends to ocour, the support members BI may be put in place. In the case of the member 82, it is slid downwardly so that its forward end lies on the cloth, and it is rotated (clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1) until the slot or notch 85 engages the post 219.

After more plies are put on the impaling members, other members 8| can be put in place. The upper support member 99, as slid downwardly, has a ratchet-like action on the post 219. This construction transmits the cloth lay pull load to the posts I9, I19, 219 and 319, the tension of said cloth plies holding the members 8| in place.

Cutting of the lay or ply pile may take place while it is still engaged by the members 50 and from shifting undesirably during the ensuing cut-.

ting or similar operations.

Turning now to the modified form in Figs. 4-7 inclusive, in Fig, 5, the lower end of an impaling member of modified form is shown (parts corresponding to the first embodiment are given the same reference characters with the sufiix a).

Here the lower end 15a of the body 52aof the,

member 59a has the threaded portion 16a reduced in section and has a taper la, the hole I'Ia being correspondingly formed. This assures a tight fit even when the threads become worn from frequent removal and replacement.

The pointed upper end Eli; and a portion of the body 52a are provided with a fiat land 6a upon which a wrench such as the wrench 5a may obtain purchase. This wrench has a chuck 4a with long slim tapering outer jaws so that said jaws may go down through the holes in the cloth (not shown) to make a good engagement with the impaling member. The wrench 5a thus not only assists in unscrewing the lower end of the body 52a from its seat but furnishes a handle by which the member 5901. may be pulled up out through the impaled cloth.

In Fig. 7, some of the functions of the threaded post 33 and the retainer member I9 of the first embodiment, are combined. The retainer and clamping element 3a is a long threaded post having a handle 44a at its upper end, a retainer portion 19, a fixed flange 2a and a threaded portion 33a. The lower end of the portion 33a engages a threaded hole in the rear of the base 40a, the flange 2a serving as a compression member upon the guide 1311 while the rear ends of the support members 8| engage the portion 19a in a manner similar to that previously described.

We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A cloth or similar web spreading holder, for use with a table top, comprising: first and second frame members having elongated top portions;

said members at the outer ends thereof, having means for engaging said table top; and a plurality of clamping and impaling elements engageable with at least one of said frame members and shiftable therealong.

2. A cloth or web spreading holder for use with a working surface having substantial thickness, comprising: first and second frame members having elongated top portions, said top portions being adapted to be placed in lapped position so that amusethe enrecttve length or the device: may be: remlated'; clamping and: impaling meanssh iftably mounted on said frame members: and said means being adapted to clamp said frame members to eacl'r other in adjusted positions: thereof and having animpal-ing member upwardly projecting: therefrom.

3 Cloth spreading holder construction comprising: first and second frame members including elongated fi'Op portions, and substantially vertical portions at the outer ends of said topportions, said top portions being ad'justabiy' positinned with respect-to eaehother; and means to intere'ngage said frame members in a plurality of ad j-usted positions thereof and an impaling mem ber connected to said last mentioned means.

A cloth spreading holder; com-prising: first and second frame members having elongated edges, one o f'said frame members-superposing theother so'that said edges areali'ned; a plurality of clamping and impali'n'g means; each havinga portion engaging one of the edges on each of said frame members; and said means having an impaling member projecting upwardly therefromupon which the cloth being spread may be-h'ooited'.

5 A cloth spreading holder" comprising a pair of framemembers shiftable with respect to each other; a; first" clamping and ii'npaling element adapted to fix said frame menribers with respect to'eachother and having a first impaling member; a second clamping and impaling' element'- having a recess sufii'cient only toreceive one of said frame members.

6'. A clothspreading holder for use with aweb of material on a working surface having substantial thickness, comprising: first and second frame members a plurality of clamping and impaling elements each including a base, upper and lower guides, an impaling memberextending upwardly from said base, and adjustable'means for moving'sai'd guides toward each other; saidele ments engaging longitudinal edges of said framemembers; said adjustable means actingto prevent said frame members from shifting longitu dinally with respect to each other.

7. In a cloth or similar web spreading holder having: a frame member-3 a cloth securing element comprising: a base;- an elongated impaling; morn--v ber projecting. from. said base; a retainer member projecting from said base and spacedw fromthe, said impaling member; and a support member detacl'l-abl-y engageable upon said impali-ng. member andsaid retainer member. s

8. In a clothor similar Web spreading holder having a frame member, acloth securing elementcomprising: a: base, means? to clamp the base on said frame member; an elongated impaling member pro-iecting. from said base; a retainer member projecting. from said baseand spacedfromthe said impaiing member; and a supportmember detachably engageable upon said impab ing member and said retainer member.

91- In a cloth or similar Web spreading: holder having a frame member-Ta cloth securing element comprising; a base; an elongatedim-palingmember projecting from said base; an' elongated re: tainer and clamping elementprojectingf romssaid. base and spaced from said impaling member; said; lastmentioned element including a retainer por tion and clamping. portion; said clamping p0rtion= acting to fix said base on said frame; and: means to connect said impaling member and retainerportion.

HAROLD B. SCHNEIDER HARRY KORETZ,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in: the file of this patent:

UNITED STZXTES PATENTS Number Name Date 426,272 Hoss Apr. 22, 1890 473,781 Edward etaL. Apr, 26,1892 9555385 Crawford 4 Apr. 19,,19'10 1,6661658 Israel Apr. 17,. 1928' 1,746,258 Jacobson Feb. 11,1930 2,000,159 Bolognino May 7, I935." 2',250;688 Waggner July 29, 19H 

